Help build conflict-hit communities, students urged
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday called on student leaders of the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) to help the government rebuild communities and ensure that education is accessible to the youth.
“Together, let us rebuild our conflict-affected communities with the values of peace, mutual trust, and conflict transformation that will empower us to achieve our shared goals for sustainable development and inclusive socio-economic advancement,” Duterte said in her message at the university’s Student Leaders Assembly.
Emphasizing that conflict and violence hinders the region’s capacity to propel for progress, Duterte also espoused that “literacy is one of the casualties of war.”
“Many of our youth in many parts of Mindanao — including in South Central Mindanao — have suffered the misfortune of chronically-interrupted learning progress because of violence,” she said.
“Meanwhile, our youth, especially those who have forcibly dropped out of school are vulnerable to being recruited by groups that espouse violence and terrorism,” she added.
The Vice President also said she “never lost faith in the power of the Filipino youth,” and that the Department of Education commits to hone children to be nation builders to “unlock Mindanao’s full potential.”
“As the Secretary of the Department of Education, I hold on to this promise as we work hard to institutionalize peace and boldly introduce reforms in our basic education curriculum,” she said.
Duterte acknowledged SKSU for shaping transformational leaders.
“For 32 years, the administration, faculty and staff of Sultan Kudarat State University have extended quality higher learning and holistic youth formation not only in Tacurong City but also in Isulan, Kalamansig, Bagumbayan, Palimbang, and Lutayan,” the Vice President said.
